Peacepainting held workshops for Romani children in Bulgaria in cooperation with the non-profit foundation AVOCADO. The foundation AVOCADO is a non-profit NGO based in Sofia, Bulgaria and aims to develop society by enhancing local communities.

The project “Inclusion of vulnerable groups through the integration of young people in the arts” was implemented with financial support from the EU program for NGO BULGARIA, and was realized on the 24th -29th of March 2015. More information about the program can be found here: www.eeagrants.org and www.ngogrants.bg

Upon completion of the project, where 8 guests from Norway and 8 representatives from Bulgaria participated, a painting workshop was conducted with children from the orphanage “Home for Children Without Parents K. Liapcheva” in Dolna Banya.

The project was aimed to provide awareness of social problems and offer development opportunities for youth. Vulnerable children were also given the opportunity to develop their potential and gain new horizons for development through the integration of art.

On Wednesday 17 July Bodø airport’s Peacepainting exhibition begins. The exhibition consists of 6 pictures from different nations and is found by Narvesen in the departure hall. The pictures can be seen by children and adults until next summer.

Peacepainting is an independent organisation with its origins in Bindal. The organisation arranges painting workshops for children and youth – such that they can express their thoughts about peace and friendship through a language without speech.

The painting workshops are held both nationally and internationally. Each participant comes forward with their own title and possibly some text about the picture. The message is imparted using a text sign which follows the picture at exhibitions. The most important thing is what the child wishes to impart and the aim is that children’s feelings shall be taken seriously.

– “When we concentrate on listening to and seeing what the children impart, it is certainly easier to remember how it is to be little. It is also easier to make decisions that promote life and variety – both when it applies to near and far relations,” says Catrine Gangstø in Peacepainting.

The pictures are exhibited both nationally and internationally. Today you can see Peacepainting exhibitions in the following Avinor airports:

Children over the whole world got the chance to express their feelings with colour with the organisation Peacepainting. Peacepainting organises intuitive painting workshops for children and youth – such that they can express themselves through a language without speech. Peterson Packaging in Ranheim supports the project by contributing strong boards which the children paint on. As thanks for our contribution we were presented with a painting by managing director Catrine Gangstø.

Press release from Nordland County Municipality:
Nordland County Municipality has granted 300,000 kroner to the foundation Peacepainting in Bindal for further development of their international commitment within art and peacekeeping for children and youth. County executive for industry, Arve Knutsen, says that a considerable amount of work has been done with the development of Peacepainting, and this stands as a unique idea with a global perspective.

Catrine Gangstø is managing director of the foundation. She had the idea that painting can be used as therapy for children and youth. Contact has been established with a number of countries. As part of the business model, pictures are presented that the children have made, via exhibitions in public places.

The county executive says that so far the work has shown that applicants have received a response which can be grounds for them to take it a step further. This can be a basis to establish and develop a physical centre for the work which can offer courses and accommodation.

– “The gain for Bindal lies in that a whole new business is established in the municipality with some competence-based internationally-looking workplaces. A competence-based business in Bindal can in this area also obtain a grant from internationally-looking programmes,” says Arve Knutsen.

Peacepainting is introduced as a means and concept for relief work of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Red Cross and United Nations in terms of international assignments which demand psychosocial efforts.

“The foundation will use the funds to work to secure permanent operation of the organisation, such that it can continue to work with different projects,” says Catrine Gangstø.

The leadership in the cathedral in Rouen wished for a Peacepainting exhibition in connection with the celebration of Olaf’s baptism in 1014. Olaf the Holy was indeed baptised here 1000 years ago. The event and the training he received in France now strongly influence Norway.

In the middle of October there were church services, concerts, talks and other markings of the anniversary in Rouen, with many Norwegian participants. Catrine Gangstø and Randi Størseth were there to arrange the exhibition and document the associated work.

At this marking, with this exhibition Peacepainting participates in promoting the idea of peace, and it focuses at the same time on the wish for peaceful coexistence across cultures in today’s picture of the world.

The exhibition shall hang in the cathedral the rest of the year and will create activities around the theme.
Photographer Randi Størseth from Trondheim is making a presentation film.

The library in the Polish town Proszowice near Krakow has received 1.1 million kroner in support from EEA funds and has started a cooperation with Peacepainting. The project shall run for 2 years. Read about the project at the Arts Council Norway website here.

The first phase of the cooperation began in April 2014, when a group of 12 people from Bindal visited Proszowice and Krakow. Seven students from the three comprehensive schools in Bindal participated in workshops in Proszowice together with 80 Polish young people.

At the end of May 2014 a large delegation of 50 Poles came to Norway. They visited Bindal and Brønnøy. Thirty-five young people and 15 tour guides were accommodated privately. They joined in in hiking to the mountain, Mulingen, in Bindal, and visited Brønnøysund Upper Secondary School and the mountain, Torghatten. They joined in in a painting workshop and met Norwegian young people at a disco.